FR2556601A1 - Floating element for aquatic games - Google Patents

Abstract

Floating element for aquatic games. This is a buoy 1, of circular or polygonal contour, which is provided, at its periphery, with rapid fastening means making it possible to join it to other identical or similar elements. These fastening means are, for example, alternating male 4 - female 3 snap-fitting members of the press-stud type. The fastening of several elements 1 makes it possible to obtain a floating structure with multiple use possibilities. Equipment for swimming, and aquatic games and ballet.

Description

 The present invention relates to a floating element for water games.

 In the swimming pool or by the sea, bathers who fight in the water, in particular children, have at their disposal relatively little varied play objects which offer very limited possibilities of use.

 These include buoys, inner tubes, balloons, canoes and air mattresses.

 The invention proposes to produce a floating object of new type, which can be used individually in the manner of a traditional buoy or be combined with other identical or similar objects to constitute a structure which can be used by a group of bathers.

 To this end, the floating element which is the subject of the present invention comprises C like a conventional buoy) an interior opening for the passage of the body and is provided at its periphery with fastening means which allow it to be easily secured and quickly to other identical or similar elements so as to constitute a floating structure.

 Thus a group of children having at their disposal several elements of this type can call upon their capacities of imagination and creation, first to construct the structure, and then to conceive the manner of using it in entertaining.

 the means of mutual attachment of these floating elements are preferably alternating male / female latching members (of the snap type) whose connection and separation is done simply and with a reduced effort in a fraction of a second. Thus the assembly and disassembly operations of the structure can be easily performed in water, by children.

 Other features and advantages of the invention will be highlighted, thanks to the description which will now be made with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, some embodiments of floating elements. according to the invention.

 - Figure i is a front view, cut by the broken plane A-A of Figure 2, of a floating element with circular outline.

 - Figure 2 is a top view of Figure 1.

 FIG. 3 shows, diagrammatically and on a smaller scale, an example of a floating structure constructed by combining elements identical to that of FIGS. 1 and 2.

 FIG. 4 shows another example of a floating structure which has been constructed using similar elements, but the hooking elements of which are distributed differently, than that of FIGS. 1 and 2.

 - Figures 5 and 6 schematically show elements with square and triangular contours, respectively.

 - Figure 7 shows a structure obtained by combining elements according to Figures 5 and 6.

 The floating element represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an inflatable rubber or plastic buoy, of toric shape, designated by the reference 1. It is provided with a valve of the usual type 2. According to the invention , the buoy 1 comprises hooking means arranged regularly on its periphery. In the example shown, these attachment means are four in number and form integral parts with the rest of the buoy.

They comprise two male elements 4 in the form of a mushroom and two female elements in the form of a cup 3. These elements are alternate male / female and arranged at 90 degrees from each other. They are shaped so as to snap in and detach themselves elastically and easily with respect to each other according to the principle of the press button.

 In FIGS. 3 to 7, the male hooking elements have been symbolized by a rod carrying a point, while the female elements have been symbolized by a C, in order to clarify these figures.

 FIG. 3 shows a construction constructed using four buoys 1 identical to the buoy in FIGS. 1 and 2.

These buoys are attached to each other end to end so as to constitute a linear structure. It can be used in various ways, for example by diving into the first sulk to come out through the second, plunge back into the third and out through the fourth.

 the buoys 5 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 are similar to the buoys 1, with the difference that they each comprise six attachment members: three alternating males and three females, arranged every sixty degrees.

The structure shown comprises six buoys 5 arranged in a hexagon. Such a structure is particularly suitable as an artistic aquatic ballet material. Thus, if we imagine a group of six swimmers (or swimmers), the structure can play the role of a big buoy inside which the whole group can emerge during its evolution, while at at other times, the heads, or other parts of the swimmers' bodies, may each emerge from a buoy. If the buoys are given bright colors and / or matching with each other this material can increase the spectacular and aesthetic character of the ballet. These colors may for example correspond to the national colors of the group in question.

 FIG. 5 shows a square shaped buoy with rounded corners, designated by the reference 6. Each of its sides is provided with 2 male 4 and female 3 hooking elements.

 FIG. 6 shows an isosceles triangle-shaped buoy 7 each of the sides of which is also provided with a pair of male 4 and female 3 hooking elements. The distance separating two hooking elements on the same side is the same for 6 square buoys and 7 triangular buoys, which allows to associate them. FIG. 7 illustrates such an association which uses two square buoys 6 and three triangular buoys 7. This structure has the shape of a canoe or a rocket and is capable of offering a group of children a multitude of possibilities of 'use.

 It should be noted that provision could also be made on certain buoys for attachment members arranged on their sides. Thus, in broken lines, in FIG. 7, a pair of toric buoys 1a similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 has been shown, but the flanks of which are 'fitted with fastening members according to the invention. . It is therefore possible to build a spatial structure (and not just a plane one). In the example of structure shown, the vertical toroidal buoys arranged vertically include, for example, the impellers of a steam boat.

 It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have been described and shown. This is how we can imagine various different quick attachment means of the press-stud system, for example hook and eyelet, tenon and mortise. the floating elements are not necessarily inflatable: we could design rigid hollow plastic elements or solid elements with low density (seat, expanded polystyrene). Various shapes of floating elements can be envisaged other than circular, square or triangular, for example rectangular and hexagonal.

 the attachment members could be added elements. 11 important is that these bodies have a shape and dimensions such that they do not pose any risk of discomfort or injury to users.

Claims (8)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S CLAIMS  1. Floating element for water games, which has an interior opening allowing the passage of the body, characterized in that it is provided at its periphery with attachment means allowing it to be easily and quickly secured with other similar elements , so as to constitute a floating structure.  2. floating element according to the 1st claim, characterized in that said attachment means are constituted by elastic snap-fastening members of the push button type.  3. Floating element according to claim 2, characterized in that the male and female latching members are alternated.  4. Floating element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said attachment means form integral parts of the element.  5. Floating element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a circular wax outline.  6. floating element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a polygonal contour.  7. Floating element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is constituted by a flexible and inflatable envelope.  8. Floating element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with additional hooking means arranged on its sides.